Head of School | Design & Creative Arts
International Recognition: Honored by Micol Fontana Couture in Florence, Italy.
Design Thinking Champion: Acclaimed in Vietnam for her expertise.
As a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) she collaborates on impactful design initiatives nationwide.
Dr. Manika Walia is a distinguished leader in design education with over 25 plus years of experience in the higher education sector. As an innovative Academic Director, she has spearheaded initiatives that have transformed learning environments, empowering students to reach their full creative potential. Her leadership philosophy revolves around consensus-building and fostering strong relationships with faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds.
Dr. Manika Walia has significantly contributed to the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Science and Technology through her role as Chief Research Associate for research projects focused on Indian heritage, culture, and indigenous processes. She has also served as an Advisory Designer for the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, helping standardize certificates for the highest Gallantry awards.
A sought-after expert, she has been selected as a jury member for the International Jury Board of the Vietnam VMARK Design Award and recognized globally for her work. Dr. Walia has pioneered innovative curricula that integrate design with liberal arts, fostering fresh ideas and dynamic growth in both fields. Her academic leadership has helped the youth of India access opportunities at prestigious universities like RMIT, PRATT, and BATH, UAL as well as enter leading industries.
Her accolades include the Excellence in Design, Research & Development award by the Research Society of India, the Catalyst Women Leader for Change award from I CAN Foundation, and recognition as an outstanding academic leader by IBAE in 2019. Dr. Walia has also been honoured for her contributions to academia and industry collaboration at the Global Education Awards and has led transformative workshops in Italy and Vietnam, among other accomplishments.
Her visionary work continues to influence the evolution of design education, with a deep commitment to integrating design and technology for the betterment of global education.
Smriti Sinha
Teaching Associate at Vedatya’s School of Design & Creative Arts
Ms. Smriti Sinha is a versatile textile designer with a strong foundation in design thinking and a passion for cultural preservation. Her industry experience, including roles at Asees by Aakriti and Indus Rugs, has honed her skills in the design process, manufacturing, and product development.
Ms. Sinha’s commitment to cultural preservation is evident in her work with the Kala Swaraj Foundation, where she designed a collection inspired by local weaving techniques. This demonstrates her ability to combine design expertise with social impact.
Her proficiency in design thinking, coupled with her technical skills and creative talent, makes her a valuable asset to any design team. She is adept at empathizing with users, ideating innovative solutions, and effectively communicating her ideas.
Overall, Ms. Sinha’s combination of industry experience, design thinking skills, and dedication to cultural preservation positions her as a talented and versatile textile designer.
Kshitij Bahl
Visting Professor at Vedatya’s School of Design & Creative Arts
Kshitij Bahl is a seasoned architect and educator with a passion for innovative design and sustainable practices. With a Master’s degree from the prestigious Politecnico di Milano and a Bachelor’s degree from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Kshitij brings a strong theoretical foundation and practical experience to his role.
As a Co-Founder of K+A Architecture Mill, Kshitij has been at the forefront of residential architecture and interior design projects. Additionally, Kshitij’s work as a Consigned Artist and Architect has exposed him to diverse creative challenges and opportunities.
With a strong command of various design software and fluency in Hindi, English, and Italian, Kshitij possesses a versatile skill set that enables him to collaborate effectively with clients and colleagues from different backgrounds. His impressive achievements, including a Merit Scholarship and multiple awards in design competitions, highlight his dedication and talent.
Yashika Munjal
Visiting Professor at Vedatya’s School of Design and Creative Arts
Yashika Munjal brings a wealth of experience to Vedatya’s School of Design and Creative Arts. She has a diverse background as a foundation facilitator as well as a design researcher with the Crafts Council UK in London, focusing on addressing microaggressions and racism in craft and design. Yashika has also facilitated interdisciplinary design and craft workshops at D-Labs Design and Architecture Catalyst, mentored students, and taught disadvantaged groups in London.
Her curatorial experience includes managing a successful craft and jewelry exhibition in Central London, and she has worked as a studio assistant, helping in the production of commissioned pieces and teaching pottery. As the founder of Studio Yashika Munjal in India, she collaborated with designers and craftsmen on award-winning projects. Her work has been recognized internationally, with several prestigious awards and nominations, including the KOKUYO Design Award and the ELLE Deco International Design Award.
Yashika has exhibited her work in renowned venues such as Goldsmiths, University of London, and Dutch Design Week, and her projects have been featured in prominent design publications. She holds a Master’s in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Bachelor’s in Lifestyle & Accessory Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra.
Devendra Dhimmar
Course Director-2D Art & Design
Dev is a renowned Fine Arts and Graphic Design expert with 17 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and a diploma in Game Art. Currently the Creative Head at Creeative Bird Ad agency and Fine Art faculty at AID, Dev is known as one of Bangalore’s best Fine Art faculties. Modules: Fine Art, Anatomy Study, Digital Art, Graphic Design. Expertise: Graphic Design (Logo Design). Achievements: Multiple Graphic Awards.
Bhaskar Nagendra
Director- Academic Affairs
Bhaskar, with 12+ years’ experience in top animation studios and a Master’s degree in visual communication, is a key strength in our gaming courses. He’s worked on modeling and rigging projects, developed curriculum for animation colleges, and served as a jury for 3D Game Art in National India Skills 2019. His strengths include troubleshooting, self-learning, and positivity.
Anand Ramachandra
Course Director – Game Design
Agha Khan
Game Design Faculty
Vinay Kumar
Assistant Head Of Academics
He followed his dreams, worked hard, and got his first break with ‘Technicolor’ while still a student. He worked on TV series and was mentored by industry professionals. Xentrix Studio was his learning ladder, where he worked on movies, TV series, and games. He’s now an animation faculty at AID, known for delivering conceptual training in an easy way. During free time, he enjoys reading, playing guitar, cooking, and creating new ideas. Expertise: 3D Animation, Acting for Animation. Achievements: Best Animator at MAAC & 24fps open competition.
Gautam Thakur
Course Director-Animation
Gautam, from Nagpur, followed his passion for animation after a bachelor’s degree in electronics. He worked at top animation studios like Paprikaas, Prana, and DreamWorks India. With industry-rich knowledge from movies like Madagascar 3, Peabody and Sherman, Penguins Movie, he empowers students from diverse backgrounds. Modules: Anim I, Anim II, Breakdown, Planning To Polish, Pantomime, Acting For Animation. Achievements: Worked on DreamWorks India movies. Expertise: 3D Character Animation.
Raj AS
Course Director-Game Development
Raj is a Certified Unity Developer, has a successful track record in game dev, starting his own studio and publishing mobile games. He has AR/VR and UI/UX expertise, and has worked at KLAP edutainment and Plastic Water Labs. His expertise: 3D & 2D games using Unity3D. Modules: Intro to Programming (JS), Data Structures, 2D Game Programming (JS/HTML5), Intro to Unity3D, Unity3D for Handhelds.
Ahamed
Course Director-VFX
Ahamed is a seasoned professional with 12 years of experience in various roles, such as Compositing Artist, DI Base Colorist, Roto Artist, Still Photographer, Assistant Director, and Graphic Designer. For his work, he has received the Best Compositing Award from Handmade Films for “Dhilluku Duddu” and was named Best Roto Artist for “Kadamban.” With a background in BSc Visual Communication, Ahmed has contributed to several notable films, including “Veeram,” “Biryani,” “Anjaan,” and “Petta.” Beyond film, Ahmed has excelled as the Head of the iCat VFX department and Centre Manager at Arena Velach
Sumit Biswas
Course Director-3D Art
Sumit brings over 10 years of extensive experience in game art to AID. Sumit has worked on AAA title projects like Tekken 7, FIFA, NHL, SMACKDOWN, Final Fantasy 7, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 & 3, and many more. Sumit’s expertise includes digital art, digital modeling & texturing, environment art, character modeling, texturing, high poly, and Unreal Engine. He has also received achievements such as being a topper in Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jamia Millia Islamia, exhibiting in a fine art group exhibition at Dr. Zakir Hussain Gallery.
